Randy Crisler Appointed to Ward 1 City Council Seat

Crisler will serve the remainder of the late Christine "Cricky" Lang's council term.

Randy Crisler has been appointed to complete the remainder of the late Christine "Cricky" Lang's Ward 1 council seat.  Mayor Ron Counts made the appointment at Thursday's meeting, and the council unanimously approved it. Crisler served as a Ward 1 councilman from 2005 to 2011. Doris Borgelt defeated Chrisler in the 2011 election.  Ms. Lang died Feb. 8 after complications from diabetes. The 44-year-old wife and mother of two served on the council since 2010. She was reelected to the Ward 1 seat in April 2012. "I'm honored to fulfil my friend's seat," Crisler said after being sworn in. Prior to the vote, Ward 4 Councilman Ken Moss made a motion to postpone the appointment until the first meeting in May. He said the council first learned of …

•  4 Comments
• Photos (3)

Arnold Mayor to Recommend Successor To Ward 1 Council Seat Next Week

Residents interested in being considered for the position should submit their resumes at Arnold City Hall.

Arnold Mayor Ron Counts plans to recommend a successor to the late Christine "Cricky" Lang's Ward 1 council seat at next week's council meeting. Ms. Lang died Feb. 8 after complications from diabetes. The 44-year-old wife and mother of two served on the council since 2010. She was reelected to the Ward 1 seat in April 2012. At Thursday's council meeting, Counts said he has received several resumes in the last couple of months from people interested in the serving the remainder of the two-year term. Counts urged anyone interested in the position to submit their resumes at Arnold City Hall, which is located at 2101 Jeffco Blvd. At the April 18 council meeting Counts will appoint someone to the position with council approval. For more …

•  4 Comments
• Photos (1)

Arnold Shares Thoughts, Prayers After Councilwoman Dies

Christine "Cricky" Lang died Monday morning in her Arnold home, spurring an outpouring of sympathy for her family and the Arnold community.

•  6 Comments
• Photos (1)

Arnold Councilwoman Has Died

Christine "Cricky" Lang, of Ward 1, died this morning at her home.

Arnold Ward 1 Councilwoman Christine "Cricky" Lang has passed away, according to Greg Hall, the city's director of administration. Ms. Lang, who had served on the council since 2010, died around 7 a.m. at her Arnold home, Hall told Patch. Her family hasn't released any other information. "The passing of Councilwoman Lang is a loss for the entire Arnold community," city officials stated in a news release. "Mayor Ron Counts, the City Council, City Administration and staff offer their sincere condolences to the family of Cricky Lang." Patch will provide more information as soon as it becomes available.

•  10 Comments
• Photos (1)

Arnold Judges Can issue $1,000 Speeding Fines

Arnold police issue the speeding tickets, judges determine the amount of the fine paid for a speeding ticket.

Ward 1 Christine "Cricky" Lang wants tougher action to prevent people from speeding through Arnold neighborhoods.  "Is there any way we can get harsher penalties for speeders where children are playing," Lang said to Arnold Police Chief Robert Shockey during the City Council meeting at City Hall, 2101 Jeffco Blvd., on March 15. Lang asked the question after the council considered placing barriers on Tamarack Drive to prevent traffic flowing through Theodore Ridge subdivision. Speeders threaten neighborhood childrens' safety, scream at kids playing on their own lawns, and curse at parents asking drivers to slow down in the 70-home area. Shockey said municipal judges determine the penalty. "The fine could be up to $1,000," he said. Police …

•  4 Comments
• Photos (3)

Three Arnold City Council Candidates Unopposed in Election

Wards 2 and 3 are the only contests in the April election.

The 2012 Arnold municipal elections will be relatively quiet event for most of the residents. Only two wards—Ward 2 and Ward 3—have more than one candidate listed as of the end of Tuesday, Jan. 17, said City Clerk Diane Waller. Incumbents Christine “Cricky” Lang in Ward 1 and Ken Moss inWard 4 will run unoposed. Treasurer Daniel Kroupa will also run unopposed. Candidates for City of Arnold elections on April 3 Ward 1 – Christine “Cricky” Lang Ward 2 – Jeff Fitter, Michelle Hohmeier Ward 3 –  Paul Freese, Mike Evans Ward 4 – Ken Moss Treasurer – Daniel Kroupa

• Photos (1)

Arnold Is Focusing on Civility in Public Meetings

City officials say council members and the public have a right to speak out, but should do so respectfully.

Arnold City Administrator Matt Unrein places a premium on civility. That’s why he invited Kirkwood's city clerk to speak to city council members about security and constituent interaction at a recent work session. Kirkwood was the scene of a shooting rampage that left six people, including the gunman, dead on Feb. 7, 2008. Two police officers, two city council members and the city public works director were killed. Kirkwood Mayor Mike Swoboda was critically injured and died seven months later of complications from his injuries. Authorities said the gunman, Charles Lee "Cookie" Thornton, apparently targeted public officials he had sparred with in the past. In Arnold, the city has posted on its website a white paper from the Institute for …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (1)

Coach Mobile Home Park Changes Ownership

Residents wary of making improvements after a series of problems.

Residents of the Coach Mobile Home Court in northern Arnold had complained of storm sewer backups, lack of street lights, rundown properties and an assortment of needed repairs, but Arnold City Councilman Cricky Lang said it was unpaid taxes and loan payments that prompted Jefferson County authorities to auction the 140-unit property on the steps of the county courthouse in Hillsboro on May 2. Lang, whose Ward 1 precinct includes the mobile home park, said Truman Bank submitted the lone bid of $2.9 million to purchase the property. “There have been problems there for quite some time,” Lang said. “Residents complained to the city, but we could only address health issues because it’s a private park.” Lang said former owner Joe Leibold owed …

•  4 Comments

City's Law Firm Will Also Represent Jerel Poor, Who is Suing the City

City Attorney Bob Sweeney said no legal conflict of interest exists. Armstrong Teasdale is a large firm and different attorneys will work on the separate lawsuits.

Mayor Ron Counts cast the tie-breaking vote allowing the law firm Armstrong Teasdale, which works for city of Arnold, to defend former Ward 2 Councilman Jerel Poor in a separate lawsuit.  Counts vote, during a city council meeting on April 26, avoided a possible legal conflict of interest for the 241-lawyer firm with offices in St. Louis, Kansas City and Jefferson City.  City Attorney Bob Sweeney said the firm works with him to defend Arnold in a lawsuit against Poor. Poor’s complaint is that a storm water charge imposed all property within city boundaries is unconstitutional, reported Missouri Lawyers Media, a trade publication.  The water charge is a tax issued without the voters’ approval, the magazine reported. During the city council …

• Photos (2)